Coachella Fest is already huge – but, if the folks at Goldenvoice have their way, it will become even larger in the not too distant future.
The promoter has asked the city of Indio to raise the attendance cap on both Coachella and Stagecoach, reports The Desert Sun. If approved, Coachella would see an increase from 99,000 festival goers to 125,000 each weekend and Stagecoach would get an increase from 75,000 cowboys and cowgirls to 85,000.
Of course, there would need to be more room to fit all these people, so Goldenvoice has proposed making the festival grounds even bigger. A total of 50 acres would be added along Monroe Street, Avenue 50, Avenue 52 and Polo Road.
Indio Mayor Glenn Miller believes that the increased size of the festivals won’t have much more of an impact on traffic.
“I don’t think it’s going to be as big of a concern as people think it really is.” Miller told KESQ. “There is going to be shuttles services that will be more expanded. There is a lot of things that went into this, some good thought into how it will affect the community around it. But, it’s very important how it will affect the quality of life for the people that live in that area.”
Goldenvoice, which already makes a shit ton of money off of the fests, would also be doling out even more coin to Indio in the form of taxes – with an estimated million dollars in extra revenues going the city’s way if approved.
The festivals also bring in a ton of dough for Coachella Valley businesses, with one report saying the events are even bigger for the economy than the BNP Paribas tennis tournament.
The city will discuss the plan tonight at a city council meeting.
Update: It’s happening.
